How to cook tofu

Points to remember

Types of tofu available include silken tofu, firm tofu and marinated tofu:

Silken tofu contains lots of moisture so is perfect for recipes which require it to be blended, such as adding to smoothies or in this recipe for tofu brekkie pancakes where it is used as a substitute for eggs.

Firm tofu is a lot drier making it a good alternative to meat as it holds together much better. If shallow frying, wrap it in kitchen paper first, then place a weight on top such as a saucepan in order to squeeze out excess moisture. Coat it in your favourite spices, curry pastes, or marinades before frying. Try this technique with our spice-crusted tofu with kumquat salad recipe.

Marinated tofu has already been flavoured - try it in the following smoked tofu sandwich recipe:

Fry 100g sliced smoked tofu for 2-3 mins each side in olive oil in a non-stick pan until lightly golden (tofu can also be eaten uncooked). To make the sandwich in the video fill a toasted bagel with 1 tablespoon of leftover mashed butternut squash and 1-2 leaves of baby gem lettuce, then top with slices of 1 baby courgette which have been griddled, 2 teaspoons of tahini (mixed with enough water to create a smooth sauce), 1 teaspoon toasted pumpkin seeds, the fried tofu slices and 1 teaspoon of aubergine pickle and serve.

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